Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 671 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Two sides, one motion): Motion: the statement being debated, often starting “This House believes…” or “This House would…”. Proposition: for the motion, speaks first, defines the key words, ends “I beg to propose”. Opposition: against it, answers the proposition, ends “I beg to oppose”. Good debate topics for students have two real sides; a plain fact is not debatable.

1. 1.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Dear diary…”
2. 2.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) speaks first
4. 4.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the proposition (c) the opposition (d) the audience
8. 8.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
9. 9.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) must disprove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
15. 15.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
16. 16.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the winner’s prize (c) the last speech (d) the timekeeper
17. 17.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) two sides to argue (d) a hidden answer
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must prove the motion
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) is for the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
32. 32.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
33. 33.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) defines the key words
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) defines the key words (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to propose”
37. 37.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
40. 40.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first

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